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(No Model.)

F. R. UPTON & F. J. DIBBLE,

PORTABLE ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM.

Patented Sept. 23, 1890.,

ATTORNE s" WITNESSES: ARM m 7%, w

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS R. UPTON, OF ORANGE, NEXV JERSEY, AND FERNANDO J. .DIBBLE, OF PEABODY, MASSACHUSETTS.

PORTABLE ELECTRIC FIRE-ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,961, dated September 23, 1890.

Application filed March 24, 1890. Serial No. 345,104. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANCIS R. UPTON, of Orange, in the county of. Essex and State of New Jersey, and FERNANDO J. DIBBLE, of

5,Peabody, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusettsboth citizens of the United States, have jointly invented an Improved Portable Electric Fire-Alarm, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to devices for giving an audible local alarm when the temperature at a certain point rises above the predeterminedlimit.

Our object is to produce analarln complete in itself, simple in construction, without complicated circuits, and which shall not require constant attention.

It is often found desirable to provide means for giving alocal fire-alarm in buildings which are not wired and connected to the enginestations or fire-department of a city, as when -a building is used temporarily for storage or like purposes, or in buildings outside of the fire-department limits. Itmay be desirable also to use a local alarm, of the character hereinafter described, in buildings which are connected with the cit-y fire-alarm system. In this case the local alarm might be so adjusted that it would be sounded before the 0 temperature should rise sufficiently high to operate the general alarm.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate our invention, Figure 1 is a side view of the device, showing the bell-dome in position 5 in dotted lines and showing the shield for the thermostatic device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation at right angles to that shown in Fig. 1, with the bel1-do1ne and shield removed. Fig. 3 is a central section through Fig. 2, and Fig.

0 4. is a plan view of Fig. 2.

In general terms, the alarm may be said to consist in a battery with a bell, buzzer, or

' other sounder mounted thereon, a magnet in a normally-open circuit for operating said 5 bell, and a thermostatic device, also 011 the battery, for closing the normally-open circuit.

1 indicates the battery. 2 isthe bell-dome thereon, and 3 the magnet for moving armature 4, which is shown suspended on pivotscrews bearin gin the central. post, and which carries the bell hammer. The battery is preferably provided with a central polar exten sion 5 and a peripheral polar extension (3. On the central pole is supported a metal or other plate 7, and upon this plate the magnet above referred to is placed. Upon the same plate is the insulating-post 8, carrying an arm 9, which terminates in an adjustable electrical contact. From the center of plate 7 rises a post 10, preferably cut away for a portion of its length and having a central bore, as shown. Through the utter part of this post extends an angle-rod 11, terminating in an electrical contact 12. The upper end of this angle-rod is rigidly connected to one end of thermostatic coil 13, which is preferably composed of two metals of unequal expansibility, as is well understood. The other end of the coil is connected to a stationary part of the apparatus. Around this thermostatic coil we may place a shield 14, composed of perforated sheet metal wire fabric, or other suitable material, for protecting the coil from mechanical injury and at the same time improving the appearance of the complete apparatus. From the other electrode 6 of the battery rises an arm 15, the end of which forms or carries an electrical contact, which in the normal condition of the apparatus is in contact with a cooperating terminal carried by spring 16, insu- 8o lated from arm 15, as shown. This spring is weaker than the retracting-spring of the armature and is held compressed by means of said retracting spring through the adjustable screw 17, which terminates in an insulatingpoint or is insulated from the frame of the apparatus. Spring 16 is connected by a wire through the magnet to arm 9.

In using this alarm we adjust the contact in arm 9 to a certain distance from contact 0 12, the distance depending upon the degree of heat at which it is desired to sound the alarm. This adjustment can be made when the be1l-dome is in position, since a screw driver or other implement can be inserted 9 5 under the dome to reach the screw. The apparatus having been adjusted is placed in the room to be protected. As the temperature rises the thermostatic coil will be affected in such manner as to throw the anglerec lever and its contact 12 toward the contactin arm 9, and when the limit of temperature is reached for which the apparatus is adjusted said contacts will come together and will close the circuit as follows: Pole of the battery, post 10, arm 11, contact 12, arm 9, through wire to magnet 3, to spring 16, arm 15, to the other pole '6 of the battery. This closure of the circuit energizes the magnet and attracts its armature, bringing the bellhammer against the bell-dome. At the same time it raises the screw 17 from spring 16, allowing said spring to rise and break the circuit. As soon as this occurs the retracting-spring draws the armature back to its original position, thus again closing the circuit between 15 and 16, which again energizes the magnet. It will be seen that the contacts on 15 and 16 cause the bell to act as a vibratingbell in the well-known manner. Without this or some similar arrangement, the bell would give a single stroke only, and for that reason would not be very efficient in sounding an alarm; but with this arrangement the alarm continues to sound as long as the temperature remains high enough to keep the circuit closed between arms 9 and 11.

We prefer to use an ordinary dry pile or battery, since thisis found to furnish sufficient current to require practically no attention and to last for a long period of time.-

Moreover, with this form of battery all danger of leakage of liquid or spilling the same by breakage of the jar is obviated; but evidently other forms of battery would serve the purpose.

By the construction which we have above described several important advantages are gained. In the first place, the thermostatic coil or device is raised away from the mass of the battery and other apparatus. It will therefore be much more sensitive to the influence of heat in the room where it is placed, since it will be affected at once and will not be dependent on the temperature of said mass. By placing the bell-dome as shown we thoroughly protect the circuit contacts and springs from mechanical injury and to a very large degree from dust, which otherwise would settle upon them. These parts are also hidden from sight by the dome.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is-.

1. The combination, in a portable fire-alarm,

of a battery, a plate on one pole supporting a bell-magnet and an insulated circuit-terminal, a central post carrying the bell-dome, a thermostatic coil, said coil being connected to the contact co operating with the insulated circuit-terminal, and a terminal supported on the second pole of the battery, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a portable fire-alarm, of a battery, a post mounted on one pole thereof and supporting a thermostatic circuit controller and sounder, and an operat ing-magnet in circuit with said battery and circuit controller, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in a portable fire-alarm, of a battery, a post connected to one pole and carrying a thermostatic device connected to an angle-lever, which constitutes a circuitterminal,and co-operating contact connected through the operating-magnet to the second pole of the battery, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in a portable fire-alarm, of a battery, a post connected to one pole and carrying a thermostatic device which controls a circuit-terminal, and a co-operating terminal connected through the operating-magnet, and a vibrator contact to the second pole of the battery, substantially as described.

5. The combination, in a portable'fire-alarm, of a battery, a magnet, a thermostatic contact therefor connected to one pole of the battery, a contact connected through the magnet to the second pole of the battery, and the belldome between the' thermostatic device and the pole and covering said magnet and circuit contacts, substantially as described.

(3. The combination, in aportable fire-alarm, of abattery, a bell and operating-magnet supported on said battery, a post carrying a thermostatic device above said bell and operating-magnet controlling the circuit of said magnet, and 1 an open-work shield 'for said thermostatic device, substantially as described.

This specification signed by said FRANCIS R. UPTON and said FERNANDO J. DIBBLE at FRANCIS R. UPTON. FERNANDO J. DIBBLE.

Witnesses:

HERBERT ToRREY, JNo. S. PARKER. 

